In an effort to pass the 2012 Ontario Budget (Bill 55) the Liberal minority government struck a deal with the opposition parties to push the budget past second reading. The opposition parties negotiated hearings whereas each line of the budget would be reviewed line by line by the Standing Committee of Finance and Economic Affairs.
The Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association (OHRIA) was granted deputation in front of the committee and presented the attached submission (available here) to the committee on Wednesday, June 6, 2012.
The charts contained on pages 6, 7 and 8 peaked the interest of the committee. The charts indicate that the Slots at Racetracks Program is the strongest performing product line of the OLG while the resort casinos have been in a loss position of more than $100 million annually for the past five years. OHRIA pointed out to the committee that the Liberal’s 2012 budget cancels the OLG’s most profitable program (The Slots at Racetracks Program) in favour of bolstering privately operated casinos which have been bleeding profit for half a decade.
OHRIA’s request to the committee, as outlined on page 11 of the submission, is “that the Standing Committee recommend the proposed ending of the Slots at Racetracks Program on March 31, 2013 should not go forward until such time as a detailed analysis of the economic impact of ending the Program has been completed by a joint government-industry panel.”
(OHRIA)
Well done again. Let the
Well done again. Let the public see it and here it on the news.
Keep up the great work Sue
Greg Parke
This is how it is in a nut
This is how it is in a nut shell. This report should be tabled in all newspapers,internet news media and television. Maybe somebody should get Dave Perkins to talk to Bob McGowan The Fan 590 and educate him and the rest of Ontario citizens at the same time. On one of his shows Bob infered that there will be racing anyway and that horsemen complain about everything. So lets set him and the rest of Ontario straight. Ken
The ultimate in trading a
The ultimate in trading a silk purse for a sow's ear.
Slots at tracks OLG best
Slots at tracks OLG best performer past decade! No surprise there. so why screw it up you ask?
Simple, Empire Building by the OLG, guaranteed they will screw it up
Ever see a civil servant in their Ivory Tower ever do anything to benefit any one but themselves!
An absolutely convincing,
An absolutely convincing, well reasoned, well researched,well written and devastating argument against the Ontario governments position. Congratulations to OHRIA and its members, if this document does not convince the government to reconsider its position we are indeed sunk
Mike Wilson Warrawee Farm
Exactly - Why would they shut
Exactly - Why would they shut down the most profitable segment of their business and then expand the least profitable segment. What hidden agenda are the Liberals and the OLG not telling the public about?
I recently asked the OLG why they have not yet disclosed their 2011 & 2012 Annual Reports (& Financial Statements) - I was told the 2011 Financials are available on a Public Accounts of Ontario document http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/paccts
The statements are buried in a 547 page document with 30 some other Crown Corporations. They have not told me when the 2012 (year ended March 31, 2012) statements will be available.
The OHRIA submission clearly shows that the Slots at Race Tracks have continued to do very well (thru March 31, 2012) while the performance of the Privately owned Casinos has deteriorated.
When you separate the BINGO Hall business from the Lotteries, you'll find (at least for the numbers available in 2009 & 2010) that the Bingo Hall segment is also losing money - another segment that the Liberals and OLG surprisingly want to expand.(?)
Very powerful document and
Very powerful document and well researched and presented. If anybody is a doubter or needs a quick education on the SAR's program this is NEED TO READ.
Very good job OHRIA and Sue Leslie, well done indeed.
OHRIA Well written- great
OHRIA
Well written- great charts- why not take their chart (showing slots make money- casinos bleed money) and plaster it in all the toronto papers???